Anti-xenophobes unite in Roodepoort CBD

Roodepoort Community Library recently served as a portal for anti-xenophobia residents when they presented a programme titled ‘The Beautiful Diversity of Africa’.

The programme on Friday 15 May was a kick starter for celebrating Africa Day on 25 May, said Monica Ramabufana, librarian and organiser.

At the meeting-turned-debate pupils of Tulip Combined School, St John the Baptist School and Thutuka Nomfundo School each had a turn to represent an African country. It was opened with prayer by Bongiwe Ncobela, one of the organisers.

During the meeting and discussions sentiments about a united Africa were shared by keynote speakers and pupils alike; the general feeling was “We are African, the rest are just demarcations”.

“We at the Roodepoort Community Library say no to xenophobia and afrophobia,” Ramabufana in her address said.

Representatives from Nigeria and Zimbabwe presented strong arguments that many foreigners, some refugees, live in South Africa out of circumstance and not out of choice. However, they said, nobody should forget who they are and where they’re from.

Ncobela later told stories of her being raised as a young Zulu girl and busted myths about Zulu culture.

Most informative to the pupils was the speech George Tyamzashe gave, who lived in exile in Botswana and Tanzania for many years. They gained insight of life for the uneducated youth in earlier years. He demonstrated the support he received in exile from people in other African countries and motivated the audience to “show that same support for our African brothers now”. Pastor and Nigerian national Edward Ifeomu inspired them to get educated, because, he said, “educated people don’t throw stones and burn tyres and hurt their brothers”.

The only down side to the passionate and inspiring anti-xenophobia programme was its size and lack of diverse South African voices.

However, Ramabufana hopes that this annual event will go from strength to strength.